VOLUME ACQUISITION EQUIPMENT
Here we try to explain details of how a three-dimensional machine is able to acquire, to scan a volume and select the ideal planes to obtain a computerised reformatted translation and rotation of the images. The acquisition of ultrasonographic volume and new computer graphic working windows, using three scanning and three dimensional models, provides highly defined information from ultrasonographic signals.

A SIGNIFICANT ULTRASONOGRAPHIC VOLUME CONTAINS MUCH MORE INFORMATION THAN A SIGNIFICANT SCAN!!!
 

 

 

 Fig. 01 The diagram indicates how an ultrasonographic volume is acquired by a trans-abdominal volume scan. A cursor allows the translation of the B-Mode probe and the acquisition of about 1024 transversal and parallel scan: by this way a volume is acquired.

 

 

 Fig. 02 In this diagram can be seen the acquisition of volume using a vaginal scan.

 

 

 Fig. 03 The diagram on the left highlights the planes that the operator can choose in the volume acquired using the volumetric scan as seen in the photo on the right.


Fig. 04 This diagram shows the planes that can be selected by the operator within the volume acquired for computerized reformation in translation of the image.

 

 

 Fig. 05 This diagram shows the planes that can be selected by the operator within the volume acquired for computerized reformation in rotation.

 

Fig. 06 Once the volume is acquired, it is possible to examine it on the 3 simultaneous orthogonal scans – frontal (A) sagittal (B) and transverse (C): this graphic window is called ‘multiplanar rendering’. In A the two green lines show the selected planes: Sagittal (B-scan) and transverse (C-scan). The yellow dots in A and C and the orange ones in B represent the stereotaxic voxel (or marker dot): this graphic equipment allows the contemporary evaluation, of a single voxel of the volume, on the 3 orthogonal intersected scans passing by the over-mentioned voxel. Thus the stereotaxic voxel is visible simultaneously in A, B and C. This method visualises a given region of the fetus and the simultaneous examination on the three multiplanar scans (frontal, sagittal and transverse).